TDM: MAY/JUNE

[ryslighelpers]

TDM: MAY/JUNE

Welcome to the Ryslig Test Drive Meme! Below are a few prompts to get you started, but you may make up any prompt you desire! Please take a look at the navigation page for rules, setting information, and links to reserves and apps. Have fun!

SCENARIO ONE

You wake up in a dark ditch, the sky cloudy overhead. Dirt cakes into your cuts and scrapes. The air is clammy and damp, and it smells like rain.

You’re in a grave. And when you sit up to inspect the tombstone marking your spot, it has your name on it. Maybe the graves next to you have the names of familiar friends, family, acquaintances. Not all of them are open like yours are. RIP.

There’s a light dancing in the distance, and you hear the jingle-jangle of heavy keys, or worse still, the gravekeeper’s massive pitchfork or shovel. If you're lucky, you can sneak out beyond his notice, and get out alone. If not - you might find yourself on the wrong end of a shovel’s swing, or worse yet, tripping headfirst in front of a pair of monstrous eyes.

SCENARIO TWO

You've stumbled your way out of the graveyard, and you're promptly besieged by the overwhelming sights and sounds of the city. Cars honk at you to get out of the street, and strangers try not to look in your direction for too long. They see your dirty clothes and scraped faces, and pretend to busy themselves with something else. Rarely, a look of pity is cast your way.

But some people try to reach out. Enterprising citizens and those that hope to curry favor with the newcomers pass out new clothes and bundles of food, asking if you have a place to stay the night, wondering about the details of the world you came from. Some are even handing out pamphlets which vary in how helpful they are--"What To Expect When You're Expecting (To Turn Into A Monster)", "Wolpertinger: Fact or Fiction?", "100% ACCURATE MONSTER QUIZ ASSESSMENT: GUARANTEED TO PREDICT YOUR MONSTER!", and "Ryslig Law In A Nutshell".

Then there are the people who aren't happy to see you at all. Glares and silent, judging stares if you're lucky, torches and pitchforks attempting to drive you out of the town if you're not. You may need a friend to help you.

SCENARIO THREE

"Seek us out," the voice whispers in your head, and before you have time to question it you've found yourself in someplace entirely alien.

Maybe it's the Fog God's ghostly town of Dyster, where exultant followers dance around bonfires and sing their praises to the skies above. Maybe it's the Fourth God's arcade, with small robots wheeling about amidst the lights and colors of old pinball machines.

Only one thing is certain: you are not alone, in this sacred place.

SCENARIO FOUR

The time has come and you've found yourself becoming a monster. Is the change instant, or gradual? Are you familiar enough with monsters to know what's happening, or is it a complete shock? Does it fit you, or does it feel incongruous with your nature? Feel free to pick any monster type for this prompt, but note that you may not get the same one in game.

Comments

[yesferatu]

[Alucard's reaction is as cryptic as everything he always does; he stares, unblinking, for a moment, at Jonathan, as though frozen in time. They may no longer be supernatural, but those red eyes are piercing, as though he is seeing through Jonathan.

His voice is steady, low, and dark.]

Speak your name.

[hotpaprika]

[Jonathan feels frozen to his spot. The piercing gaze, the voice, Harker knew he made a mistake. He wants to run away, but where would he even run to? Could he even make any sort of distance before his stranger caught up to him?

Practically on his own, he speaks up.]

Jonathan Harker, sir. Might I ask your name?

[He almost immediately regrets that question, and the stark fear definitely showed on his face.]

[yesferatu]

[Moments pass like tiny eternities in Alucard's pointed stare, and then all of a sudden—

It softens. His brow lifts, his eyes relax.]

Once knew a friend by the same.

[A common name, perhaps. But know, Alucard knows it to be deeper, and not to be deeper at all. It is, and it isn't. That's easy for Alucard to accept.]

Call me what you'd like.

Or if you'd rather not waste your breath, you can leave with me.

[He turns away, then, eyeing around to find the graveyard's gate, where he assumes an exit into whatever town they're in will be.]

Smells too much like dirt for my tastes.

[hotpaprika]

[He's not sure if he should be relieved or horrified by this man softening his gaze. He was someone who liked to be optimistic about things, but this was a stranger crawling out of a grave with a marker stating that it belonged to Count Dracula, saying that he had a "friend" named Jonathan Harker.

Frankly, Harker didn't have the faintest clue what this meant, but he wasn't sure he liked it. Still, this was the only person he's ran across in this whole graveyard, and they were out in the open. Maybe it couldn't hurt to stick with him to make sure he doesn't get attacked by wolves, and then run off if he tries to drag him to some secluded place.

He nods, not wanting irk the man any further, and follows.]

I certainly hope there's a hotel nearby. I could use a long rest after this dreadful night.

[yesferatu]

[It's gotta be something purgatorial, right? As Alucard looks over his shoulder at Jonathan, red eyes flashing from beneath his hat, he contemplates the possibility of Jonathan having any descendants to take his name. But no, that's probably not right, either. It's just a common name. It's a strangely... opportunely common name, but

No, he isn't going to overthink it. They get out of this graveyard, and perhaps god or the devil himself will present him with some deeper moral quandary about forgiveness or whatever.]

What town doesn't have a place to stay these days?

[Well, he certainly hopes it's 'these days', anyway. Shit gets weird when you are trapped in time and space and exist-but-don't-exist.

...But the more troubling thing becomes the sight of the groundskeeper in the distance. The exit is a little ways out from that guy, but the groundskeeper himself... there's something foreboding about him. Something that tells Alucard that, well, were they seen leaving their graves, this guy might not be so happy about it.

Without saying anything, he starts to walk on Jonathan's other side, ostensibly between the human man and the groundskeeper despite the distance.]

[hotpaprika]

[Jonathan had been content to walk in silence, not daring to say anything that might upset this man, but when he sees him move to his side, he can't help but look over to see why he did that.

Oh, there's a man there! Jonathan is quick to notice the strange energy he's giving off, but either because of his optimism or the fact that he is currently struggle to recognize any non-vampire threat, he smiles over at the grounds keeper, tipping his hat politely.]

Oh hello! Excuse us stranger but I fear we're quite lost; do you know where the nearest town is?

[The groundskeeper notices the man calling out to him and begins slowly approaching them. As he gets closer it's clear that he's holding a shovel, stained with something dark.]

[yesferatu]

[Oh, there it is, that's the karma.

Alucard lets out a chuckle.]

Oh, shit.

Better hold on to your head, Harker.

[Ah, it's lovely, isn't it? Danger, its scent, its vibration through the air. The stench of blood hangs over the fog the closer the the grounds keeper gets, and Alucard reaches out his hand and gestures as if to shoo Jonathan away.]

Already time to see how it feels to be alive.

[hotpaprika]

W-wait, sir what are you doing-?

[That's when he notices the thick scent in the air of blood and he nearly gags. He looks up to glance at the groundskeeper, and his eyes widen in horror. There was so much blood on him, and the fact that he was getting dangerously close without saying anything made him finally realize that something was horribly off.

The stranger he's tagging along with might give him some vague feelings of dread, but it was certainly better than what this man must have in mind. Jonathan ducks a little behind Alucard, not quite going to hide yet but not eager to participate in whatever this man has in store.]

S-sir?!

[He isn't sure if he's calling out to the groundskeeper or Alucard.]

[yesferatu]

[Alucard can't help the roll of his eyes, the click of his tongue in annoyance. He's never known such restraint. He's never known much restraint at all, actually, even with foes larger than him, and he certainly isn't about to learn on the fly. When the groundskeeper raises his shovel offensively, Alucard simply smirks, waits for it to come down— grasps the shovel's handle in his hands like an armored knight would parry a sword.

He's still quite large and as strong as his 6'5 frame would let him be, but he hasn't the power a vampire has anymore. The shovel comes too close to his face for anyone's comfort, and for just a moment, Alucard is wide-eyed, surprised. That surprise quickly turns to irritation, as he has no time to savor the moment with another life in the balance.]

Fucking move it already, human! Or would you rather return to your grave?!

[hotpaprika]

["Human", that term sticks out to Jonathan as he looks up at Alucard. He supposed that confirms that this man must be the same sort of demon Dracula is. But he can't have time to ponder as the groundskeeper swings his shovel and he lets out an undignified yelp. He doesn't need to be told twice to hide as he ducks behind a large gravestone nearby.

Jonathan didn't like running like this, it made him feel like nothing more than a pathetic coward, but what could he do? This man was demanding for him to hide and he wasn't particularly good at fighting. Still, he felt horribly guilty that he's the reason why this man is in such danger right now.]

[yesferatu]

[Poor Jonathan isn't privy to what's going on in Alucard's head right now; the thrill of knowing that at this moment, he may be outmatched, just by loss of his power. The reveling in powerlessness. He is so mortal, so capable of losing— and that thrill pushes him mercilessly forward.

He only holds the groundskeeper's shovel long enough for Jonathan to move, and then lets it out of his grip to come crashing to the ground, letting the groundskeeper follow the shape of the motion's arc. The follow through and the force by which the groundskeeper swings makes the edge of the shovel catch in the dirt. Alucard uses the groundskeeper's bowed posture to his advantage, elbowing the man in the eye with as much force as he can muster; it sends the groundskeeper staggering back, letting go of the shovel. But Alucard doesn't take the shovel— instead he pursues the groundskeeper, who grasps Alucard's arms with a roar, making the two of them grapple in sight of Jonathan.]

[hotpaprika]

[Jonathan watches in horror, unable to tear his eyes away from this sight. This groundskeeper was strong, and while the stranger was strong as well, his mind kept flashing to the worst case scenario. What if this man gets hurt or even dies? It would be all his fault, wouldn't it? The man told him to hide but sitting here doing nothing when this man was just trying to help him made him feel sick to his stomach.

He tears his eyes away from the fight for a moment and spots a large stone that had been broken off from a tombstone and takes it into his hand. He looks back at the fight, with Alucard struggling in the groundskeeper's grasp. He had to do something, even if it's to distract the man for a little bit.

He takes a deep breath to steady his hand, and after he makes sure he has a good shot of the groundskeeper, he chucks the rock straight at his head.]

[yesferatu]

[Alucard at least hears the near-silent whistle of the rock through the air— but he makes a look of surprise. He isn't used to his body not moving as quickly as it did before, or not being as strong— isn't used to his mind thinking so much faster than his body can react. But his look of surprise also stalls the groundskeeper, who looks in the direction of the oncoming rock; it collides with his face and sends him staggering back, letting go of Alucard's arms.

Alucard whistles himself, bouncing one brow in Jonathan's direction— a look that's supposed to be approving but might still be quite unnerving— and before he can get too distracted, leans back to grab that dropped shovel. Leans back, really, because he doesn't have to step; they haven't moved too far and Alucard's body is so... long.

But as the groundskeeper roars into his hands, spitting blood from his mouth and nose, Alucard swings the shovel to finish off Jonathan's little head trauma escapade. The metal hits the groundskeeper's head with a metallic CLANG! and the groundskeeper falls backward, hitting the ground limply— something that would make anyone else turn and run while the opportunity remained.

But Alucard does not.

He steps forward, resting a boot on the groundskeeper's stomach, and breaks the shovel's head off at the wooden handle over his knee. He stands, poised, raising his hands at the ready to drive the length of the wooden handle into the groundskeeper's neck, a wicked smile revealing the unnatural length of his canine teeth.]

[hotpaprika]

[Jonathan had, frankly, quickly moved back behind the tombstone after he threw the rock, scared that the groundskeeper would come after him for throwing that rock. He doesn't look back over until he hears the sound of the shovel hitting against someone and a body falling. He looks over, scared to see who the victor is.

His heart nearly stops when he sees Alucard getting ready to impale the groundskeeper, looking absolutely gleeful about it.]

Wait!

[Without even hesitating, he runs up to Alucard.]

Do we have to kill this poor soul? We don't know what made him attack us in the first place, and after all we did just crawl out of grabs, perhaps he thought we were members of the undead. [For a split second, Jonathan worries that he himself is undead, but his heart pounding out of his chest seemed to easily prove otherwise.] A-and it's not like he can do any harm to us now.

[He looks up at Alucard, looking absolutely worried and confused, and so incredibly full of fear.

It is, perhaps, a look Alucard is very familiar with coming from him.]

Please don't kill him, sir.

[yesferatu]

[He has seen Jonathan's face so many times. It is ingrained in his memory, every expression he's ever seen from him, from his sweetness to his sorrow to his fear, rightful anger, despair and desperation.

Please don't kill him, sir.

But he doesn't see Jonathan for that moment, just a moment. It's another voice in his head that calls him sir, that pleads with him to stop. He sees seas of blue-turned-red in Jonathan's eyes, wheat-gold hair, similarly fearful eyes that engaged with him despite that fear.

Alucard is held still, stunned short for just a moment— and that wide-eyed look turns into a frown fairly quickly. But it isn't an angry or wicked one— it's more like a child being told to put down its told.

He tosses the handle of the shovel over his shoulder and rolls his eyes, tilting his head upward and looking over his shoulder at the exit.]

Hurry, Solicitor.

[Well that might sound weird. Did Jonathan introduce himself as a solicitor? Doesn't seem to matter to Alucard, who turns to head toward the gate.]

Before he wakes and decides to make sure we are dead.